My missus is leaving in Feb which means that I have nowhere to live (I have to stay until the summer and our residence is through her work). Many years ago I went to London (1997) on the old Irish thing of going away to work for 5 years and coming home to buy a house but because of certain considerations (celtic tiger/me being shit at my job) that didn't happen. But now I would like a foothold in the auld sod. Which areas should I be looking at and are there any honest decent estate agents out there? What is Drumcondra like?

Despite the media claim, property is still affordable in Dublin even if accessing mortgage funding is harder than it used to be. There may not be many bargains but there is value in the right areas. I don’t know the north side so can’t give you any good advice about it. Drumcondra would be viewed as a very solid suburb in a great location. I’d be concerned about the level of rentals there, and the chance of ending up bookended by two renting sets of neighbours. I suppose it all depends on your priorities and how much you want to spend.

Despite the media claim, property is still affordable in Dublin even if accessing mortgage funding is harder than it used to be. There may not be many bargains but there is value in the right areas. I don’t know the north side so can’t give you any good advice about it. Drumcondra would be viewed as a very solid suburb in a great location. I’d be concerned about the level of rentals there, and the chance of ending up bookended by two renting sets of neighbours. I suppose it all depends on your priorities and how much you want to spend.

Glasnevin fine, the Glasnevin side of Phibsboro is fine, I'm less familiar but places like Killester and Raheny are grand as well, then you're into more expensive spots like Clontarf, Howth, Malahide. If you could live with a commute then Skerries.

I'm looking myself at the moment. Very little in the way of bargains around.

Areas like stepaside and kilternan is where I’d be looking if in the market for a first house - stepaside village is now really good it has a Fresh supermarket, good butchers and fishmongers, a couple of decent pubs etc

Areas like stepaside and kilternan is where I’d be looking if in the market for a first house - stepaside village is now really good it has a Fresh supermarket, good butchers and fishmongers, a couple of decent pubs etc

Looking at Stepaside too. Its for living in for a year and then renting out.

Don’t think I could live in Stepaside. It’s still soulless and a nightmare to commute from. D8 still seems to be the best value for money. Lots of youngsters buying in Walkinstown now too but D8 is your man if you’re looking to rent it out.

Areas like stepaside and kilternan is where I’d be looking if in the market for a first house - stepaside village is now really good it has a Fresh supermarket, good butchers and fishmongers, a couple of decent pubs etc

I don’t know when the last time you checked how much property is in stepaside but a couple would want to be earning 140k to buy a house anywhere there given the mortgage caps, is that now beginner money? Your not getting any House there for less than 450k I’d imagine

I just left an apartment there and the landlord was selling it for nearly 300k

Areas like stepaside and kilternan is where I’d be looking if in the market for a first house - stepaside village is now really good it has a Fresh supermarket, good butchers and fishmongers, a couple of decent pubs etc

I don’t know when the last time you checked how much property is in stepaside but a couple would want to be both earning 140k combined to buy a house anywhere there given the mortgage caps.

I just left an apartment there and the landlord was selling it for nearly 300k

Glad you edited that was going to take you up on your figures

FTB 3.5x140,000 = €490,00010% deposit Minus 20,000 help to buy grant if property is under €500,000

Would get a decent 4 bed or a very nice 3 bed in Step for that. Good schools, new park, LUAS etc - good but really

Areas like stepaside and kilternan is where I’d be looking if in the market for a first house - stepaside village is now really good it has a Fresh supermarket, good butchers and fishmongers, a couple of decent pubs etc

I don’t know when the last time you checked how much property is in stepaside but a couple would want to be both earning 140k combined to buy a house anywhere there given the mortgage caps.

I just left an apartment there and the landlord was selling it for nearly 300k

Glad you edited that was going to take you up on your figures

FTB 3.5x140,000 = €490,00010% deposit Minus 20,000 help to buy grant if property is under €500,000

Would get a decent 4 bed or a very nice 3 bed in Step for that. Good schools, new park, LUAS etc - good but really

Yeah but beginner house? Not accessible to the vast majority

It’s also a an absolute trek away from anything, I drove the bike into work because the bus takes 2 hours from bellarmine and the Luas is just a joke.

Also is help to buy grant not only for new builds?

Last edited by goose81 on Sun Jan 14, 2018 8:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Ah would schtop, stepaside is grand distance wise. Village has everything you’d need. LUAS is overcrowded at rush hour though I agree

If you're raising a family it's great. Sports clubs up to your eyeballs in the immediate vicinity. Carrickmines retail park, Dundrum town centre and Leopardstown shopping centre all nearby for food, clothes, toys, DIY, furniture, cinema, resturants etc. Lots of decent schools nearby. Local pub and shop in walking distance. Close to Wicklow mountains for scenery, close to M50 for getting around the country. On a bus route (albeit the 44 is not a bus you want to be getting at rush hour), Luas about 10 minutes walk away.

It could be seriously isolated and too far out for a couple who are likely to do more socialising etc. It's a good 35 quid in a taxi from town.

Ah would schtop, stepaside is grand distance wise. Village has everything you’d need. LUAS is overcrowded at rush hour though I agree

If you're raising a family it's great. Sports clubs up to your eyeballs in the immediate vicinity. Carrickmines retail park, Dundrum town centre and Leopardstown shopping centre all nearby for food, clothes, toys, DIY, furniture, cinema, resturants etc. Lots of decent schools nearby. Local pub and shop in walking distance. Close to Wicklow mountains for scenery, close to M50 for getting around the country. On a bus route (albeit the 44 is not a bus you want to be getting at rush hour), Luas about 10 minutes walk away.

It could be seriously isolated and too far out for a couple who are likely to do more socialising etc. It's a good 35 quid in a taxi from town.

Agree. Why would you want a 3 bed house if you weren’t considering a family though.

Ah would schtop, stepaside is grand distance wise. Village has everything you’d need. LUAS is overcrowded at rush hour though I agree

If you're raising a family it's great. Sports clubs up to your eyeballs in the immediate vicinity. Carrickmines retail park, Dundrum town centre and Leopardstown shopping centre all nearby for food, clothes, toys, DIY, furniture, cinema, resturants etc. Lots of decent schools nearby. Local pub and shop in walking distance. Close to Wicklow mountains for scenery, close to M50 for getting around the country. On a bus route (albeit the 44 is not a bus you want to be getting at rush hour), Luas about 10 minutes walk away.

It could be seriously isolated and too far out for a couple who are likely to do more socialising etc. It's a good 35 quid in a taxi from town.

Agree. Why would you want a 3 bed house if you weren’t considering a family though.

Agreed, which means you’d need a garden and not a penthouse apartment still costing. €400k.